Magnetic catch assembly



Feb. 11, 1969 R. 1.. PIETSCH MAGNETIC CATCH ASSEMBLY Original Filed Nov. 20, 1963 INVENTOR. H0 RAYMONOLPIETSCH ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,427,058 MAGNETIC CATCH ASSEMBLY Raymond L. Pietsch, Flint, Mich., assignor to The Engineered Products Company, Flint, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application Nov. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 325,014, now Patent 0. 3,273,926, dated Sept. 20, 1966. Divided and this application July 22, 1966, Ser. No. 567,199 US. Cl. 292-2515 7 Claims Int. Cl. Ec 17/56 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A magnetic catch having a housing enclosing a magnet assembly consisting of a magnet sandwiched between two pole pieces with a hallow transversely elongated rivet or sleeve extending through the magnet assembly and interconnected with the housing so that a fastening screw can be driven through the elongated opening in the rivet to mount the catch on a support for adjustment lengthwise of the elongated opening in the rivet.

This invention relates to a magnetic catch and more particularly to a magnetic catch for use on cabinet or cupboard doors and the method of assembling the catch.

This application is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 325,014, filed Nov. 20, 1963 now Patent No. 3,273,926.

An object of this invention is to provide a magnetic catch that is attractive; that is constructed simply and economically; that has component parts retained simply and effectively in an assembly; and that is assembled rapidly, easily and economically.

A further object of this invention is to provide a magnetic catch having a simple construction to facilitate adjustably attaching the catch to a cabinet door or the like by a single fastener.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one form of magnetic catch according to this invention having a single pin retaining the parts together and being mounted on a door frame with a portion of the door shown in section.

FIG. 2 is an end View of the catch taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the general direction of FIG. 3 with a portion of the catch being broken away to illustrate the method of assembling the catch.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a modification in the catch that enables the catch to be secured to the door frame with a single screw.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hollow pin which is incorporated in the catch shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to retain the parts together.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pronged grommet incorporated in the catch shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to aid in effectively securing the catch to the mounting surface.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification wherein a one-piece pin is formed a sheet metal blank and is adapted to be frictionally retained in the casing of the catch illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 in place of the pin and grommet of FIGS. 5-8.

FIG. 10 illustrates yet another type of pin similar to but constructed simpler than the pin illustrated in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. l3, a magnetic catch 10 adjustably mounted on a door frame 12 by a pair of screws 14 magnetically engages and retains a striker plate 16 mounted on a door 18 shown in closed position. Catch 10 comprises a one-piece, plastic casing 20 defining an open- "Ice ended chamber 22 in which a magnet assembly 24 is loosely confined. Casing 20 has a pair of oppositely extending, mounting flanges 26 having elongated slots 28 therein to accommodate screws 14. Magnet assembly 24 comprises a ceramic magnet 30 having pole pieces 32 magnetically adhering to its opposite poles.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, assembly 24 is retained in casing 20 by a plastic pin 34 having an enlarged head 36 at one end thereof disposed in a bore 37 through a lower side wall 38 (as viewed in FIG. 3). Pin 34 has a cylindrical shank 40 extending through circular cross section bores 42 in each of the parts of assembly 24, and having its upper end 44 disposed in a blind hole 46 in an upper side wall 48 (as viewed in FIG. 3). Blind hole 46 has an outwardly flared mouth 47 to guide pin 34 during assembly of the catch. Head 36 has a circumferential head 50 disposed in a mating annular groove 51 in wall 38 to frictionally retain pin 34 in casing 20. Shank 40 has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of bores 42 to loosely confine assembly 24 in casing 20 and facilitate mating between pole pieces 32 and striker plate 16. Upper end 44 extends within blind hole 46 to keep pin 34 positioned properly. End 44 may also have a press fit with wall 48 although it is not necessary for most applications.

Another aspect of this invention is the simple and effective method of assembling catch 10. As illustrated in FIG. 4 magnet 30 and pole pieces 32 are disposed in chamber 22 with bores 42 aligned vertically with blind hole 46 and bore 37. Pin 34 is then inserted through bore 37 and bores 42 until bead 50 abuts wall 38. Pin 34 is then pressed into casing 20 until head 50 snaps into groove 51 to lock pin 34 in frictional engagement with casing 20.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 5-8, a magnetic catch 60 is secured to a door frame 12 by a single screw 62. One difference between the catch 60 (FIG. 5) and catch 10 (FIG. 1) is that the pin for retaining the catch 60 assembled is in the form of a sleeve or hollow pin 64 having an oval cross section and an oval bore 65 to accommodate screw 62 therethrough. Referring to catch 60 in more detail, a one-piece plastic casing 66 defines an open-ended chamber 68 in which a magnet assembly 70 is loosely confined. Magnet assembly 70 compnses a ceramic magnet 72 having pole pieces 74 magnetically adhering to its opposite poles. Magnet 72 and pole pieces 74 each have a centrally disposed oval bore 76 through which sleeve 64 extends to retain assembly 76 in casing 66. Sleeve 64 has its upper end portion (as viewed in FIG. 6) disposed in a counterbore 78 in an upper side wall 80 of casing 66. The upper end of sleeve '64 abuts a shoulder 82 formed between counterbore 78 and an oval bore 84 in wall 80. Bore 84 has dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of bore 65 in sleeve 64. Sleeve 64 has its lower end disposed in a bore 86- through a lower side wall 88. A circumferential bead 89 on the lower end portion of sleeve 64 is disposed in a mating annular groove 90 in wall 88 to frictionally engage sleeve 64 in casing 66. An annular metal grommet 91 is disposed in bore 84 ad acent the lower end of sleeve 64 and is preferably retained in casing 66 by a force fit. Grommet 91 has a pair of prongs 92 which extend outwardly from casing 66 and penetrate frame 12 when catch 60 is secured thereto by screw 62. Penetration of prongs 92 is assured since force is tranmitted from the head of the screw 62 to the end of sleeve 64 abutting shoulder 82 and then longitudinally through sleeve 64 to grommet 91.

Bores 76 have dimensions slightly greater than the exterior dimensions of sleeve 64, permitting limited movement of assembly 70 to assure mating between pole pieces 74 and striker plate 16. The oval cross section of bores 65 and 84 permits easy adjustment of catch 60 On frame 12. Catch 60 is assembled by simple operations substantially similar to those described in conjunction with FIG. 4 by pressing sleeve 64 into casing 66 until bead 89 snaps into groove 90 to lock sleeve 64 in frictional engagement with casing 66. After catch 60 is secured to frame 12 by screw 62, sleeve 64 and grommet 91 are positively confined between shoulder 82 and frame 12.

FIG. 9 illustrates another form of retaining pin 100- usable with the casing illustrated in FIGS. and 6 and in place of the sleeve 64 and grommet 91 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Pin 100 is formed of relatively thin, resilient sheet metal and generally comprises an annular oval end portion 102 and an integral longitudinal wall 104 in the form of a hollow oval sleeve having an outer periphery generally corresponding to the outer periphery of portion 102. Wall 104 is formed by bending a pair of opposed tabs 106 downward with respect to portion 102 as viewed in FIG. 9 and then arcuately bending each tab 106 toward the opposed tab to form slits 109 between adjacent longitudinal edges 108 of tabs 106. Tabs 106 have integral prongs 110 adapted to extend outwardly from casing 66 when pin 100 is assembled therein. Prior to assembly within casing 66, wall 104 is slightly flared outwardly toward its lower end as viewed in FIG. 9 and slits 109 are open. The peripheral dimension of wall 104 is such that when pin 100 is assembled within casing 66 through bore '86 wall 104 yieldably contracts, closing slits 109 and pin 100 is frictionally engaged with wall 88 by the tendency of tabs 106 to spring outwardly. The catch is then retained in assembled condition for shipping and handling,

FIG. illustrates a retaining pin in the form of a hollow, oval sleeve 116, similar to that shown in FIG. 9, having an oval cross section passageway 118 therethrough and an integral inwardly rolled flange 120 forming a rounded edge 121 at the top of sleeve 116. Edge 121 facilitates assembly into bore 86 and counterbore 78 (FIG. 6). Flange 120 abuts shoulder 82 (FIG. 6). A portion of sleeve 116 is broken away to show flange 120. Sleeve 116 is formed from a strip of relatively thin, resilient sheet metal by arcuately and reversely bending ends 122, 124 toward each other to form a narrow slit 126 therebetween. Sleeve 116 has a pair of integral prongs 128 which function similarly to prongs 92 (FIG. 8) and 110 (FIG. 9). The peripheral dimension of sleeve 116 is such that when sleeve 116 is assembled within casing 66 (FIGS. 5 and 6), sleeve 116 yieldably contracts, substantially closing slit 126 and frictionally engaging sleeve 116 with wall 88.

With the embodiments disclosed in conjunction with FIGS. 5-10, the oval cross section of bores 76, 86 and sleeve 64, grommet 91 (FIGS. 7 and 8), oval portion 102 and wall 104 (FIG. 9) and sleeve 116 (FIG. 10) preclude relative rotation between the casing and the central retaining pin while permitting slight relative movement between the magnet, pole pieces and the casing. With each of the catches disclosed hereinabove, after catch 10 (FIGS. 1-4) or catch 60 (FIGS. 5-10) is secured to frame 12, frame 12 positively prevents displacement of the central retaining pin.

1 claim:

1. A magnetic catch comprising a housing having vertically spaced top and bottom walls connected together by side walls to form a magnet enclosure, said housing comprising a plastic molded member, a magnet unit disposed in said housing, said magnet unit comprising a magnet having a pair of pole pieces at the opposite poles of the magnet, said pole pieces disposed one adjacent the top wall of the housing and one adjacent the bottom wall of the housing with the magnet sandwiched therebetween, said pole pieces extending outwardly of the housing along an open side thereof, said magnet unit having a vertically extending through passageway therein, said top and bottom walls of the housing each having an opening therethrough registering with the ends of vertical passageway in the magnet unit, said vertical passageway and said openings having a cross section which is elongated in the direction perpendicular to said open side of the housing, a sleeve extending into said registering openings and through said passageway, said sleeve being frictionally engaged within at least one of said openings and having clearance with said passageway, said sleeve providing an opening through the housing and magnet unit which is elongated in a direction perpendicular to said open side of the housing for accommodating a fastener therethrough for mounting the catch on a support surface for adjustment in said perpendicular direction.

2. A magnetic catch as called for in claim 1 wherein said elongated openings and passageway are generally ovalshaped.

3. A magnetic catch as called for in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an enlarged peripheral rib adjacent one end thereof, the edge of the opening in one of said top and bottom walls having a peripheral groove therein adapted to accommodate said rib and providing said frictional connection between said sleeve and said last- :mentioned wall.

4. A magnetic catch as called for in claim 1 wherein the end of said sleeve within the opening in the bottom wall has integral prongs projecting outwardly from said bottom wall.

5. A magnetic catch as called for in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed of a resilient sheet material, said sleeve having an axially slitted wall adapted to yieldably contract when the sleeve is forced axially into the openings in the top and bottom walls.

6. A magnetic catch as called for in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed from a sheet metal blank having a central annular oval portion and a pair of opposed tabs connected with opposite edge portions of the oval portion by a lub, said tabs being bent into a plane perpendicular to said oval portion and to conform with the periphery of the oval portion to thereby define on said sleeve axially extending walls which are slitted at opposite sides of said oval portion.

7. A magnetic catch as called for in claim 6 wherein said oval portion defines an inwardly extending flange at one end of said sleeve, the opening in the top wall of said housing having a shoulder thereon against which said flange abuts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,102,748 9/ 1963 Heyer 292-251 3,287,051 11/ 1966 Anderson 29225 1 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner. 

